Animation hit takes ancient tales across ocean

Few would imagine that strands of lifesaving hair from Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, could become an unexpected weapon for the Eight Immortals as they confront the powerful Yang Jian, or Erlang Shen, in All Wishes Come True! — a Chinese animated film bringing the centuries-old mythology to global screens.

Drawing on the folk legend of the Eight Immortals while weaving in characters and imagery from Journey to the West and other classical tales, the fantasy comedy brings traditional cultural icons together in a newly imagined universe for contemporary audiences.

At the film's North American premiere in Los Angeles on Aug 13, Hollywood filmmakers, actors and moviegoers praised its elaborate 3D animation. But many were even more intrigued by the world behind the images — Chinese mythology, folklore and philosophical ideas unfamiliar to them.

Inspired by the traditional tale The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, the film reimagines the supernatural beings as eight ordinary mortals whose weaknesses, ambitions and choices eventually lead them toward heroism.

Hollywood actor John Kyle Sutton said he was surprised by how completely the film held his attention despite its lengthy runtime — 144 minutes. "This movie is a masterpiece," Sutton said. "I don't like long movies. Usually about 86 minutes is when I top out." But, he added, the film kept his attention throughout.

Sutton said he was drawn to its themes of "brotherhood, fraternity, betrayal and greed", as well as the pacing and animation.

Set around the celestial world of Penglai, the story begins with Lyu Dongbin and Zhongli Quan plotting to enter a divine vault before unfolding into a battle involving mortals, gods and the fate of the wider world.

United States film producer Stephen Nemeth described the movie as a "very, very beautiful spectacle", saying its fantasy world reminded him of the US classic The Wizard of Oz.

"I'm hoping hosting this movie here will bridge our cultures, in America and China, and we'll learn a lot from each other," Nemeth said.

He said he was impressed by how deeply Chinese culture draws on "mysticism and folklore and back-story", elements that give the film a character distinct from much mainstream Western animation.

Nemeth's son Lincoln, an animation enthusiast, also noticed a visual difference.

"The 3D aspect of it all looks a little more realistic," he said, comparing it with the visual style of US animated movies.

Learning about unfamiliar cultural and religious themes through animation also made the experience educational, he said.

Striking feature

Hollywood actor Christopher Kriesa said the film's visual reconstruction of an imagined ancient China was among its most striking features.

"I was really mesmerized by the great creativity and the beauty of (ancient) China — the structures, alleys, buildings, and the mythology, the gods and the immortals," Kriesa said.

However, Kriesa said he was unfamiliar with the origins and cultural significance of the Eight Immortals, wondering whether they were characters from children's stories or figures with a deeper place in Chinese culture. Characters instantly recognizable to generations of Chinese viewers might be unfamiliar to US audiences.

For Georges Chamchoum, executive director of the Asian World Film Festival, the Chinese legend was a "discovery".

Introducing eight major mythological characters to audiences unfamiliar with their stories presents a storytelling challenge, but the Eight Immortals' distinct personalities helped viewers connect with them quickly, Chamchoum said.

"The characters of the Eight Immortals are so interesting. Each one has its own personality," he said. "You hardly have enough time to breathe because the action never stops … it is exciting."

An increasingly important task as Chinese animation expands globally, he said, is making stories accessible to overseas audiences while preserving their cultural identity.

Rather than simply retelling The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, the film blends familiar mythological figures and motifs into a newly imagined celestial realm. Chamchoum said the approach reflects a broader trend in Chinese animation: drawing on traditional culture while using contemporary storytelling and digital technology to reach younger, increasingly international audiences.

Huang Hongjiang, Chinese deputy consul general in Los Angeles, said the movie offers another channel for overseas audiences to learn about Chinese stories and visual culture.

"Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment and film industry," he said. "Over the last several decades, the cooperation between China and the US has produced good results, not only in the film industry but also in the economy, trade, education and technology."

renali@chinadailyusa.com